NHIA adopts measures to achieve Universal Health Coverage target by 2030

Despite the economic upheaval in the country, resulting in high cost of drugs and access to quality healthcare, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) insists Nigeria can still achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) target by 2030.

Addressing a stakeholders’ forum on ‘Knowing and Making Regulatory Provisions Count’, in Lagos, Deputy General Manager, NHIA, Ikeja office, Dr. Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, said the Authority was working assiduously to get Nigerians covered under the health insurance net.

He noted that the Authority had put in line processes to achieve its desired objectives by creating a narrative where every Nigerian is conscious of health insurance and willing to be covered.

He noted that mandatory health insurance was what was lacking since the onset of health insurance in Nigeria.
According to him, health insurance has been voluntary and making it mandatory is to make sure all Nigerians have health insurance by 2030.
He said among the processes put in place to achieve this, is making health insurance mandatory for access a particular social service of government.

Besides, he disclosed the Authority’s move to delist Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) over poor services to enrollees.
He hinted that the result of the re-accreditation process that had taken place would soon be out, adding that those that did not meet up would be delisted.
“The process has been concluded. It is at the level of the Coordinating Minister for Health. Once he approves the result of the re-accreditation, HMOs that did not meet up would be delisted.
“Part of the criteria used in the re-accreditation is indebtedness to healthcare providers. If you are not paying the healthcare providers as at when due it will catch up with you and you will go,” he said.

Taking the participants on expanding coverage of the NHIA, Assistant General Manager, Programme Unit, Ikeja, Chika Amahalu, explained that the forum was to bridge the gap between the Authority and stakeholders for better health services to the citizenry.
On the Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP), which promises to leave no one behind, she stressed the need for health insurance coverage for every Nigerian to guarantee access to quality and affordable healthcare.

Similarly, Head of Accreditation, NHIA, Dr. Hunkokoe Felicia, who took the participants on the benefit package, gave what the NHIA covers across the Primary and Secondary Health Centres level.